Talk:Turkish proverbs

A

 * Acıkan doymam (sanır), susayan kanmam sanır.
 * Literal translation: A hungry man thinks he won't be satiated, a thirsty man thinks he won't be quenched.


 * Acele işe şeytan karışır.
 * Literal translation: The Devil interferes with hurried work.
 * Meaning: If you hurry your work it will turn out wrong.


 * Aç tavuk kendini buğday ambarında görür.
 * Literal translation: A hungry hen sees herself in a wheat silo.
 * Meaning: When one is in need of something, he dreams about himself having it lavishly.
 * Aç ayı oynamaz.
 * Literal translation: A hungry bear won't dance.
 * Meaning: One needs to be paid to do some work.


 * Açın halini tok bilmez, hastanın halini sağ bilmez.
 * Literal translation: A satiated man doesn't know what's hunger, a healthy man doesn't know what's disease.


 * Açma sırrını dostuna, o da söyler dostuna.
 * Literal translation: Don't tell your secret to your friend, he will tell it to his friend.


 * Adam adama gerek olur.
 * Literal translation: Man needs man.
 * Meaning: We need each other. We can only do great things through teamwork.


 * Ağacı kurt, insanı dert yer.
 * Literal translation: It is worms which destroy a tree, it is worry which destroys a human.


 * "Aĝaç yaş iken eĝilir"
 * Literal translation: Trees bend when they are young.
 * Meaning: You can only learn at a young age, when you get older you will not be able to learn.


 * Ak gün ağartır, kara gün karartır.
 * Literal translation: A white day sheds light, a black day sheds darkness.


 * Akılları pazara çıkarmışlar, herkes kendi aklını beğenmiş.
 * Variant: Herkes aklını pazara çıkarmış, yine kendi aklını beğenmiş.
 * Literal translation: They put up minds for sale on the market, everyone liked his own mind. (Variant: Everyone put up his mind for sale on the market, and liked his own mind.)
 * Meaning: To stick to one's own opinion.


 * Alçak yerde yatma sel alır, yüksek yerde yatma yel alır.
 * Literal translation: Don't lie down in low places, flood will take you, don't lie down in high places, wind will take you.
 * Meaning: Do not do extreme things, stay casual.


 * Allah gümüş kapıyı kaparsa altın kapıyı açar.
 * Literal translation: If God closes the silver door He will open the golden door.
 * Meaning: For every loss there is opportunity.
 * English equivalent: When one door closes, another one opens.


 * Ana gibi yar, vatan gibi diyar olmaz.
 * Literal translation: There is no love like a mother's nor a place like your homeland.


 * Anlayana sivrisinek saz, anlamayana davul zurna az.
 * Literal translation: To one who understands, a mosquito is a lute, to one who does not understand, a drum and zurna are little.
 * Meaning: A good listener needs only half a word.


 * Araba devrilince yol gösteren çok olur.
 * Variant from the city of Kırşehir: Kağnı devrilince yol gösteren çok olur.
 * Literal translation: Many will show the way after the carriage (variant: ox cart) has overturned.
 * Meaning: Everyone is wise after the event. (Everyone tends to be wise with advices not before an incident has happened)


 * Armut dibine düşer.
 * Literal translation: A pear will fall to its root.
 * Meaning: Children resemble their parents. (Children take after their parents)
 * English equivalent: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.


 * Aslan yattığı yerden belli olur.
 * Literal translation: You can tell a lion from where he dwells.
 * Meaning: A person's character shows itself from his surroundings.


 * Aşağı tükürsen sakal, yukarı tükürsen bıyık.
 * Literal translation: If you spit downwards, it hits the beard, if you spit upwards, the mustache.
 * Meaning: Either way, the situation is bad.


 * Ateş demekle ağız yanmaz.
 * Literal translation: Saying "fire" does't burn the tongue.
 * Meaning: Offensive words cannot hurt you.


 * Ateş düştüğü yeri yakar.
 * Literal translation: Fire burns where it falls.
 * Meaning: Pain is suffered most by the one who is inflicted.


 * Ayıpsız dost arayan dostsuz kalır.
 * Literal translation: A man who seeks a perfect friend will turn out having none.

B

 * Balık ağa girdikten sonra aklı başına gelir.
 * Literal translation: A fish only comes to its senses after it is caught in the net.
 * Meaning: You will only learn when something happens to you. (No use regretting after losses)


 * Bana arkadaşını söyle, sana kim olduğunu söyleyeyim.
 * Literal translation: Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.


 * Baş başa vermeyince taş yerinden kalkmaz.
 * Literal translation: The stone will not move from its place, unless you cooperate.
 * Meaning: Hard tasks can be accomplished by collaboration.


 * Başkasına fenalık eden kendine etmiş olur.
 * Literal translation: He who does evil to another, has done it to himself.


 * Bedava sirke baldan tatlıdır.
 * Free vinegar is sweeter than honey.


 * Bekara karı boşamak kolay.
 * Literal translation: Divorcing a wife is easy for a single guy.
 * Meaning: If somebody is looking at the situation from outside, he can't fully comprehend it. Things seem easier to one who isn't involved.


 * Bin bilsen de bir bilene danış.
 * Literal translation: Even if you know a thousand things, still ask someone who knows one thing.
 * Meaning: It is advisable to check with an expert.


 * Bir elin nesi var, iki elin sesi var.
 * Literal translation: What does one hand have? Two hands make a clapping sound.
 * Meaning: People produce more or better work if they cooperate.


 * Bir kanatla kuş uçmaz.
 * Literal translation: A bird will not fly with one wing.


 * Bitli baklanın kör alıcısı olur.
 * Literal translation: Wormy beans will have blind buyers.
 * Meanning: Even worthless things find a buyer.


 * Boşboğazı cehenneme atmışlar, "Odun yaş" diye bağırmış.
 * Literal translation: They put the blabbermouth in hell, and he shouted "The wood is damp!"
 * Meaning: Used for extremely idiot people.


 * Bükemediğin bileği öpeceksin.
 * Literal translation: You should kiss the hand that you can't bend.
 * Meaning: You should respect someone who is superior, rather than grudging towards him.


 * Bülbülü altın kafese koymuşlar, ah vatanım demiş.
 * Literal translation: They put the nightingale in a golden cage, it still craved for its country.

C

 * Cahile söz anlatmak, deveyi hendekten atlatmaktan zordur.
 * Literal translation: Explaining something to an ignorant person is harder than making a camel jump over a ditch.


 * Can çıkmayınca huy çıkmaz.
 * Literal translation: Habits don't expire until the soul expires.
 * English equivalent: Old habits die hard.
 * Cömert der maldan ederler, yiğit der candan ederler.
 * Literal translation: They call you "generous" and make you lose your property, they call you "brave" and make you lose your life.

Ç

 * Çıkar ağzındaki baklayı.
 * Literal translation: Remove that bean hiding under your tongue.
 * Meaning: Tell what are you really are going to tell me, rather than prolonging the conversation.


 * Çok yaşayan bilmez, çok gezen bilir.
 * Literal translation: Not he who lived long knows, but he who traveled much knows.
 * Meaning: Experience counts more than years.

D

 * Dağ dağa kavuşmaz, insan insana kavuşur.
 * Literal translation: Mountain won't meet mountain, but man will meet man.
 * Meaning: Consider that whatever you do to a person, you may meet him again.


 * Damlaya damlaya göl olur.
 * Literal translation: Drop by drop the lake is formed.
 * English equivalent: From little acorns, mighty oak trees grow.


 * Davulun sesi uzaktan hoş gelir.
 * Literal translation: The sound of drums sounds nicely from far away.
 * English equivalent: The grass looks greener on the other side.


 * Denize düşen yılana sarılır.
 * Literal translation: Who falls into the sea will take hold even of a snake.
 * Meaning: If you are in a bad situation, you will accept any help. Beggars can't be choosers.
 * English equivalent: A drowning man will clutch at straws.


 * Dervişin fikri neyse zikri de odur.
 * Literal translation: Whatever the thoughts of the dervish, so are his formulas.
 * Meaning: Man's thoughts are revealed in his speech.


 * Deveye sormuşlar neden boynun eğri. "Nerem doğru ki?" demiş.
 * Literal translation: They asked the camel why its neck was curved. "What of me is straight?" it said.
 * Meaning: Used for extremely unpleasant and pessimistic situations. Also used to insult people.


 * Doğru söyleyeni dokuz köyden kovarlar.
 * Literal translation: The one who speaks truth would be expelled from nine villages.
 * Meaning: Who always speaks the truth is not popular.
 * Note: "Dokuz" (nine) displays alliteration with "doğru" (truth).


 * Dünyayı sel bassa ördeğe vız gelir.
 * Literal translation: If the world is flooded, it wouldn't matter for the duck.

E

 * El elin eşeğini türkü çığırarak arar.
 * Literal translation: One searches for someone else's donkey while singing songs.
 * Meaning: People don't care about others' problems as much as their own.


 * Eleştiri hakkı çalışmaktan doğar
 * Literal translation: The right to criticize comes from working.
 * Meaning: Those who haven't done the work shouldn't criticize others.


 * Emek olmadan yemek olmaz.
 * Literal translation: Without effort there is no food.
 * English equivalent: No pain, no gain.

F

 * Fala inanma falsız kalma.
 * Literal translation: Don't believe in foretellings but don't stay without them.
 * Meaning: Foretellings are not to be believed but they might have benefits.

G

 * Gençliğin kıymeti ihtiyarlıkta bilinir.
 * Literal translation: The value of youth will be known in old age.


 * Gençlık bir kuştur, ucar tutamam. Yaşlılık yüktür, bir kuruşa satamam.
 * Literal translation: Youth is a bird, escapes my capture. Old age is a heavy burden, can't sell it for a penny.


 * Gökyüzünde düğün var deseler, kadınlar merdiven kurmaya kalkar.
 * Literal translation: If they say there is a wedding in the sky, women would try to put up a ladder.
 * Meaning: Turkish women like weddings very much.


 * Görünen köy kılavuz istemez.
 * Literal translation: The village that one can see requires no guide.
 * Meaning: No need to say something when it is obvious.


 *  Görünen köye klavuz istenmezmiş.
 * Meaning: Every situation which is seen doesn't need a comment.


 * Gülü seven dikenine katlanır.
 * Literal translation: Who loves a rose will endure its thorns.
 * Meaning: If you love something, you need to accept its undesirable attributes / everything has its consequences


 * Güneş balçıkla sıvanmaz.
 * Literal translation: Sun cannot be daubed using wet clay.
 * Meaning: One cannot conceal something very obvious whatever they try.

H

 * Hamama giren terler.
 * Literal translation: Who enters the Turkish bath will sweat.
 * Meaning: To bear the consequences of one's actions.


 * Harman yel ile, düğün el ile olur.
 * Literal translation: Winnowing is with the wind, wedding is with the people.
 * Meaning: Every situation has its own requirements.


 *  Hatasiz Kul Olmaz. 
 * Literal translation: Flawless human is impossible
 * Meaning: Nobody's perfect.


 * Havan dövücünün hık deyicisi.
 * Literal translation: He who hiccups of him who beats the pestle.
 * Meaning: To pretend to help but not do anything.


 * Hayy'dan gelen Hû'ya gider.
 * Literal translation: What comes from The Ever Living One will go to him.
 * Meaning: He who comes from the creator, will return to him at the end.
 * Variant: Someone will end up the way he started.


 * Hazıra dağlar dayanmaz.
 * Literal translation: Mountains won't endure on what lies ready.
 * Meaninng: One cannot live forever on one's savings.


 * Her gönülde bir aslan yatar.
 * Literal translation: There lies a lion in every heart.
 * Meaning: Everybody has bravery somewhere in themselves.


 * Her horoz kendi çöplüğünde öter.
 * Literal translation: Every rooster crows in its own pen.
 * Meaning: People take courage from being in familiar surroundings.


 * Her koyun kendi bacağından asılır.
 * Literal translation: Every sheep is hanged from its own leg.
 * Meaning: Everyone is responsible for his own actions.


 * Her kuşun eti yenmez.
 * Literal translation: One cannot eat the meat of every bird.
 * Meaning: Not every person will do as you say.


 * Her şeyin yenisi, dostun, şarabın eskisi.
 * Literal translation: Every thing is best when new, a friend and wine are best when old.


 * Her taş, baş yarmaz.
 * Literal translation: Not every stone will hurt your head.
 * Meaning: You should not be scared of every little obstacle.


 * Hocanın vurduğu yerde gül biter.
 * Literal translation: A rose will sprout from the place where a teacher has hit.
 * Meaning: No learning without beating.


 * Horozu çok olan köyün sabahı geç olur.
 * Literal translation: In a village with too many roosters morning will come late.
 * Meaning: With too much deliberation a solution won't be reached.

İ

 * İki ucu boklu deynek.
 * Literal translation: A stick with both sides covered in shit.
 * Meaning: Either of the options is unsatisfactory.


 * İmam gülerse, cemaat kahkaha atar.
 * Literal translation: If the imam scoffs, the community will chortle.
 * Meaning: The leader serves as a model for the people.


 * İmam osurursa, cemaat sıçar.
 * Literal translation: If the imam farts, the whole congregation will defecate.
 * Meaning: The leader serves as an example to his followers.


 * İsin yanına varan is, misin yanına varan mis kokar.
 * Literal translation: Who goes near soot smells of soot, and who goes near musk smells of musk.
 * Meaning: A person is influenced by the company he keeps.


 * İşleyen demir pas tutmaz.
 * Literal translation: Iron that works does not rust.
 * Meaning: One has to practice to keep up one's performance.


 * İti an, çomağı hazırla.
 * Literal translation: Name the dog, ready the stick.
 * Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked about. Usually has an unpleasant meaning. Check "İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş." for the other one.


 * İtle dalaşmaktansa çalıyı dolaşmak yeğdir.
 * Literal translation: It is better to walk around a bush than fight with a dog.


 * İyi insan lafının üzerine gelirmiş.
 * Literal translation: A good person always arrives on the uttering of his name.
 * Meaning: Used for people who show up instantly when they have been talked about. Has a pleasant meaning, unlike "İti an, çomağı hazırla."


 * İyilik yap denize at, balık bilmezse halik bilir.
 * Literal Translation: Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fish don't know it, God will.

K

 * "En iyi karar, verilmiş karardir"
 * Literal meaning: The best decision is a made decision.


 * Karga demiş: "Benim ak pak evladim".
 * Literal translation: The crow said: "Oh, my snow-white child".
 * Meaning: Everyone thinks their child is beautiful.


 * Karga kekliği taklit edeyim derken, kendi yürüyüşünü unutmuş.
 * Literal translation: As the crow tried to imitate the partridge, it forgot its own walking style.
 * Meaning: Be thyself.


 * Kaz gelecek yerden tavuk esirgenmez.
 * Literal translation: A chicken won't be grudged to a place a goose will come from.
 * Meaning: You need to be ready to sacrifice smaller things to reach your bigger goals.


 * "Koyun bulunmadigi yerde keciye Abdur Rahman Celebi derler"
 * Literal Translation: In the land where there are no sheep, they call goats Abdur Rahman Chelebi
 * English equivalent: In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is king


 * Kefenin cebi yok.
 * Literal translation: The shroud has no pockets.
 * Meaning: You cannot take your earthly belongings with you when you die. Make better things with your wealth.


 * Kel ölür sırma saçlı olur, kör ölür badem gözlü olur.
 * Literal translation: The bald becomes golden haired when he dies, the blind becomes almond eyed when he dies.
 * Meaning: People will attribute unrealistically good qualities to a person once he dies.


 * Körle yatan şaşı kalkar.
 * Literal translation: Who lies with the blind gets up cross-eyed.
 * Meaning: If you are with the wrong person, you will adopt the mistakes.
 * English equivalent: If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.


 * Kurda ensen neden kalın demişler, kendi işimi kendim görürüm de ondan demiş.
 * Literal translation: They asked the wolf: "Why is your neck thick?", and it said: "I do my job myself, that's why."


 * Kurunun yanında yaş da yanar.
 * Literal translation: Near the dry, the damp will burn.
 * Meaning: If you are with wrongdoers, nobody cares if you are innocent.

L

 * Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez.
 * Literal translation: With talking the cheese ship won't move.
 * Meaning: It's action that will yield tangible results, not the talking.


 * Peyniri olan adam, Zengin adam!
 * Literal translation: The man who has cheese is the rich man!

M

 * Mal canı kazanmaz, can malı kazanır.
 * Literal translation: Property will not earn life, but life will earn property.
 * Meaning: Health is more important than wealth.


 * Mart kapıdan baktırır, kazma kürek yaktırır.
 * Literal translation: March makes one look through the door, and makes one burn hoes and shovels.
 * Meaning: Do not act carelessly under influence of enthusiasm, or you might find yourself in a worse situation.


 * Merd-i kıpti şecaat arzederken sirkatin söyler.
 * Literal translation: A brave/daring gypsy will brag on his robberies. (A gypsy, so daringly fool, confesses his own inapplausable acts without even being asked)
 * Meaning: Do not brag with the things that are unworthy.


 * Meyveli ağaçı taşlarlar.
 * Literal translation: They throw stones at a tree with fruit.
 * Meaning: Those who are good and talented are the most envied and critisized for.


 * Minareyi çalan kılıfını hazırlar.
 * Literal translation: Dare to steal the minaret but first prepare the sack for hiding it.
 * Meaning: Excuses have to be prearranged before the crimes.


 * Minareyi yaptırmayan yerden bitmiş sanır.
 * Literal translation: He who did not help building the minaret, thinks that it just grew out from the ground.


 * Misafir umduğunu yemez, bulduğunu yer.
 * Literal translation: A guest does not get the food he expects but what he's served.


 * Mühür kimde ise Süleyman odur.
 * Literal translation: Whoever has the Seal, he is Solomon [the prophet]. (Solomon is he who has the seal)
 * Meaning: The boss is the one who calls the shots.

N

 * Namazda gözü olmayanın ezanda kulağı olmaz.
 * Literal translation: Who has no intention to pray has no ears for the call to prayer.
 * Meaning: One's perceptions depend on her/his intentions.


 * Nerede hareket orada bereket.
 * Literal translation: Wherever there is activity, there is blessing.


 * Nereye gitsen okka dört yüz dirhemdir.
 * Literal translation: Wherever you go, an okka is four hundred dirhem.
 * Meaning: It makes no difference, fact is fact. (An okka is a weight of 1282 gr, or 400 dirhem).

O

 * Oğlan babadan öğrenir sofra açmayı, kız anadan öğrenir biçki biçmeyi.
 * Literal translation: A son will learn from his father to make a living, a daughter will learn from her mother to cut clothes.


 * Olacakla öleceğe çare bulunmaz.
 * Literal translation: There is no remedy for what will be and who will die.


 * Olan dört bağlar, olmayan dert bağlar.
 * Literal translation: He who has wraps four, he who has not wraps trouble.
 * Meaning: The rich have valuables, the poor have troubles.


 * Olsa ile bulsayı ekmişler, yel ile yuf bitmiş.
 * Literal translation: They sowed "if only" and "if found", and wind and waste sprang up.

P

 * Papaz her gün pilav yemez.
 * Literal translation: The priest does not eat rice every day.
 * Meaning: To grab an opportunity.


 * Parayla imanın kimde olduğu belli olmaz.
 * Literal translation: It is unclear who has money and who faith.


 * Parayı veren düdüğü çalar.
 * Literal translation: Who gives the money will play the flute.

R

 * Rüşvet kapıdan girince iman bacadan çıkar.
 * Literal translation: When bribery enters through the door, faith goes out through the chimney

S

 * Sakinilan göze cöp batar.
 * Literal translation: An over-protected eye gets the speck.
 * Meaning: Being overly careful invites misfortunes.


 * Sakla samanı, gelir zamanı.
 * Literal translation: Keep straw, its time will come.
 * Meaning: Don't throw away even an insignificant thing, there might be a time, when it will be needed.


 * Sarımsağı gelin etmişler, kırk gün kokusu çıkmamış.
 * Literal translation: They made the garlic a bride, its smell did not come out for forty days.
 * Meaning: Only after some time are a spouse's faults noticed. / Also used if someone overbrags on his/her achievements for an extended period of time.


 * Sen ağa, ben ağa, bu ineği kim sağa?
 * Literal translation: You a master, I a master, who is to milk this cow?
 * Meaning: Said when a job is not done because each person considers the others as underlings.


 * Serçeden korkan darı ekmez.
 * Literal translation: Who fears the sparrows must not sow millet.
 * English equivalent: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.


 * Soğanın acısını yiyen bilmez, doğrayan bilir.
 * Literal translation: Who eats it won't know the bitterness of the onion, but who chops it does.
 * Meaning: You can not know how hard a work is, unless you are involved in it.


 * Son gülen iyi güler.
 * Literal translation: Who laughs last, laughs the best.


 * Su akarken testiyi doldurmalı.
 * Literal translation: One must fill the pitcher while the water is flowing.
 * Meaning: Better to save money when you are able to work.


 * Sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer.
 * Literal translation: One who has once burnt his tongue while drinking milk will blow to yoghurt before eating it.
 * Meaning: One who has experienced pain will be cautious even in the least dangerous situation.
 * English equivalent: Once burned, twice shy

Ş

 * Şeyh uçmaz, müridi uçurur.
 * Literal translation: The sheik cannot fly, but his disciple lets him fly.
 * Meaning: Followers tend to attribute characteristics to a leader that he has not got.


 * Şeytanla ortak buğday eken samanını alır.
 * Literal translation: Who sows wheat with the devil will get its chaff.

T

 * Tabancanın dolusu bir kişiyi korkutur, boşu kırk kişiyi.
 * Literal translation: A charged pistol scares one person, an empty one scares forty people.
 * Meaning: Control your power. If it is controlled, only the target will be concerned. Otherwise, you create panic.


 * Tarlada izi olmayanın harmanda yüzü olmaz.
 * Literal translation: Who leaves no traces in the field, will be put to shame at harvest.
 * Meaning: Who does not attend to his tasks won't have results.
 * English equivalent: You reap what you sow.


 * Taşıma su ile değirmen dönmez.
 * Literal translation: The mill won't turn with carried water.
 * Meaning: A job can't be done with inadequate means.


 * Tatsız aşa tuz neylesin, akılsız başa söz neylesin.
 * Literal translation: What is salt to a chef without taste, what is advice to a head without brain?


 * Tavşan dağa küsmüş, dağın haberi olmamış.
 * Literal translation: The hare (rabbit) was offended with the mountain, but the mountain did not notice.
 * Meaning: It is senseless to show resentment towards an unresponsive and unrelated person or entity. / Also used as a catalyzer in an argument to state to the other side that, they are insignificant and not to worth to be paid attention for the speaker.


 * Tembele iş buyur, sana akıl öğretsin.
 * Literal translation: Order the lazybones a task; he will give you advice.
 * Meaning: Lazy people only talk.


 * "Tencere dibin kara." "Seninki benden kara."
 * Literal translation: "Pot, your bottom is black." "Yours is blacker than me."
 * Meaning: Examine your own mistakes and faults first, before blaming others.


 * Tiz-i reftar olanın payine damen dolaşır, erişir menzil-i maksuda aheste giden.
 * Literal translation: (original sentence is in Ottoman language rather than modern Turkish) He, who walkes hastily will eventually fall down, but he who strides slowly will reach his target.
 * Meaning: If you try to do everything so fast, eventually they will all fail. Take it slow and you will succeed.
 * English equivalent: Slow and steady wins the race.

U

 * Ucuz etin yahnisi yavan (tatsız, pek) olur.
 * Literal translation: The stew of cheap meat will be tasteless (hard).
 * Meaning: Cheap possessions disappoint.


 * Umut fakirin ekmeğidir.
 * Literal translation: Hope is the bread of the poor.


 * Uyuyan yılanın kuyruğuna basma.
 * Literal translation: Don't tread on the tail of a sleeping snake.

Ü

 * Üşenenin oğlu kızı olmaz.
 * Literal translation: A reserved will not have sons and daughters.
 * Meaning: A person who shys away from engaging social interactions will stay single.


 * Üzüm üzüme baka baka kararır.
 * Literal translation: Grapes will darken by looking at each other.
 * Meaning: People mature by learning from their peers. People become bad through bad company.

V

 * Vakit nakittir.
 * Literal translation: Time is cash.
 * English equivalent: Time is money.


 * Vakitsiz öten horozun başı kesilir.
 * Literal translation: The head of the rooster that crows out of time will be cut off.
 * Meaning: Know where to speak.

Y

 * Yalancının evi yanmış, kimse inanmamış.
 * Literal translation: The liar's house burned, but nobody believed it.


 * Yalancının mumu yatsıya kadar yanar.
 * Literal translation: A liar's candle will burn until bed-time.
 * Meaning : A lie will be eventually exposed.


 * Yavuz hırsız ev sahibini bastırır.
 * Literal translation: Smart thief overcomes the landlord.
 * Meaning: Even when he is wrong, he makes others believe with his aggressive behavior that he is right.


 * Yaz günü gölgede yatanın, kış günü ekmeği esmer olur.
 * Literal translation: The one who lays in shade in summer, whose bread becomes dark in winter.
 * Meaning: If you don't work in summer, you don't get comfort in winter.
 * A proverb from the district of Körfez.


 * Yenilen pehlivan güreşe doymaz.
 * Literal translation: The beaten wrestler is never satisfied with wrestling.
 * Meaning: He who fails will always want to try again and again until success.


 * Yiğit lakabıyla anılır.
 * Literal translation: The brave is known by his fame.


 * Yolsuz tüccar bozuk para sayarmış.
 * Literal translation: A broke merchant counted his small change.
 * Meaning: Said when an underachiever recounts his petty achievements.


 * Yüzü güzel olanın huyu da güzel olur.
 * Who has a beautiful face has a beautiful character too.

Z

 * Zaman sana uymazsa sen zamana uy.
 * Literal translation: If time doesn't fit you, you fit time.
 * Meaning: Create your own opportunities.


 * Zararın neresinden dönülse kardır.
 * Literal translation: Whenever you turn from loss, there is gain.
 * Meaning: No matter how far down the wrong road you have gone, turn back.


 * "Zayif birisi caliskan olsa bile sonunda ezilir."
 * Literal translation: A weakling will be crush, even if he is hardworking and persistant.
 * Meaning: The weak can never succeed, no matter how hardworking.


 * Zemheride yoğurt isteyen, cebinde bir inek taşır.
 * Literal translation: Who wants yoghurt in winter must carry a cow in his pocket.
 * Meaning: If you want something difficult, you must be willing to take the trouble to obtain it.


 * Zengin arabasını dağdan aşırır, züğürt düz ovada yolunu şaşırır.
 * Literal translation: A rich man will get his carriage over the mountains, a poor man will lose his way on a level plain.


 * Zenginin horozu bile yumurtlar.
 * Literal translation: Even the rooster of a rich man lays eggs.


 * Zenginin malı fakirin çenesini yorar.
 * Literal translation: A rich man's belongings will tire a poor man's jaw.